What deficiency causes diabetes?
Sep 07, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Pan Yongyuan
Introduction
Diabetes is caused by insufficient insulin secretion. Infections or exposure to chemicals can trigger autoimmune reactions in the pancreatic islets, leading to loss of insulin-secreting function and resulting in diabetes. Decreased sensitivity of the body to insulin weakens insulin's ability to regulate blood glucose, causing diabetes. With aging, or during pregnancy when hormone levels rise, the capacity for insulin secretion may be reduced or lost, leading to diabetes.
Diabetes mellitus is caused by insufficient insulin secretion.
Diabetes mellitus arises from multiple factors leading to inadequate insulin secretion. For instance, viral infections or exposure to chemical substances may trigger an autoimmune response against pancreatic islets, resulting in loss of insulin-secreting function and subsequent diabetes. Alternatively, unhealthy lifestyle habits—such as prolonged consumption of high-sugar, high-fat diets; physical inactivity; and excessive alcohol intake—can lead to overweight or obesity, thereby reducing insulin sensitivity and impairing insulin’s ability to regulate blood glucose, potentially precipitating diabetes. Additionally, advancing age or hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy—characterized by elevated levels of various hormones—may compromise insulin’s glucose-regulating capacity or diminish/abolish insulin secretion, thereby contributing to diabetes development.
Upon diagnosis of diabetes, patients are advised—under physician supervision—to initiate pharmacotherapy, such as metformin or glibenclamide, to stimulate insulin secretion, improve insulin resistance, elevate insulin levels, and lower elevated blood glucose. When necessary, physicians may also prescribe rapid-acting insulins—including aspart insulin or glulisine insulin—to enhance glucose metabolism, reduce blood glucose levels, and alleviate symptoms.
